Evolutionary psychologist differentiate between long- and short-term mating strategies - two styles of mating thought to have been useful to ancestral men and women depending on their circumstances. Recent research has found that individuals are able to change their preference for short- and long-term mating within the laboratory.

But, what are the implications of a strong preference for short-term mating? There is plenty of research showing that risky sexual behaviour is linked to negative health outcomes. However, a connection has yet to be made between preference for short-term mating (socio-sexuality) and the tendency to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Similarly, it is unknown whether having predominantly short-term relationships has any negative impact on mental health.

If an association is found between desire for short-term mating and negative sexual/mental health outcomes, then this has important implications for the body of evolutionary psychological research which shows that mating strategies are malleable. Factors which cause people to shift towards short-term mating, become possible factors which can influence risky sexual behaviour and therefore negative health and relationship outcomes.